Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises: initiating storage of a data object in two or more storage sets, wherein the data objects stored in each of the two or more storage sets are copies of each other, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein each data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices (EDSs); detecting a failure to store at least a minimum number of EDSs of the data object in at least one of the two or more storage sets, wherein the minimum number of EDSs is a number required to enable recovery of the data object; initiating storage of an entry in the DSN, wherein the entry indicates the data object for which at least a minimum number of EDS failed to store; updating synchronization status for the data objects stored in each of the two or more storage sets, wherein the updating the synchronization status is includes querying the DSN for the entry for the data object; based on the updated synchronization status, determining to resynchronize the two or more storage sets; identifying a data object requiring resynchronization; identifying a latest available revision associated with the data object; and facilitating storage of the identified latest available revision of the data object in at least one storage set requiring the latest revision to satisfy the resynchronization.
Data storage and retrieval in distributed computing environments. A method for storing data objects in a dispersed storage network (DSN) addresses the problem of ensuring data availability and integrity when storage operations fail. The method involves segmenting a data object into multiple data segments. Each data segment is then dispersed error encoded using specific parameters to generate a set of encoded data slices (EDSs). These EDSs are distributed across at least two storage sets. The system detects when a minimum required number of EDSs for a data object fail to be stored in at least one of the storage sets. This failure triggers the initiation of an entry in the DSN that flags the data object as having a partial storage failure. The synchronization status for data objects within the storage sets is then updated by checking the DSN for such failure entries. Based on this updated synchronization status, a determination is made to resynchronize the storage sets. The process identifies a data object needing resynchronization and its latest available revision. Finally, the system facilitates the storage of this latest revision in at least one storage set that requires it to meet the resynchronization goal, thereby restoring data consistency.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating storage includes: identifying the two or more storage sets, generating a plurality of sets of encoded data slices and sending the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to the identified two or more storage sets.
This invention relates to distributed data storage systems, specifically methods for initiating storage of data across multiple storage sets in a decentralized manner. The problem addressed is efficiently distributing and encoding data to ensure redundancy and fault tolerance while minimizing storage overhead. The method involves identifying two or more storage sets, which are groups of storage devices or nodes, to store encoded data slices. A plurality of sets of encoded data slices is generated from the original data, where each set contains multiple encoded slices derived from the same data. These encoded slices are then distributed and sent to the identified storage sets. The encoding process ensures that the data can be reconstructed even if some storage sets become unavailable, improving reliability. The distribution of multiple sets of encoded slices across different storage sets enhances redundancy and fault tolerance, making the system more resilient to failures. This approach is particularly useful in large-scale distributed storage systems where data integrity and availability are critical.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identified two or more storage sets are associated with common user.
A system and method for managing data storage in a distributed computing environment addresses the challenge of efficiently organizing and retrieving data across multiple storage locations. The invention identifies and groups related data sets that are frequently accessed together, optimizing storage and retrieval operations. Specifically, the method involves analyzing access patterns to determine which data sets are commonly used in conjunction, then associating these sets to improve performance. The invention further enhances this by ensuring that the identified storage sets are linked to a common user, allowing for personalized data management. This ensures that user-specific data is grouped logically, reducing search times and improving system efficiency. The method dynamically adjusts these associations based on ongoing usage patterns, adapting to changing user needs. By maintaining these relationships, the system reduces redundancy and enhances data integrity, particularly in environments where multiple users interact with shared or related data sets. The invention is particularly useful in cloud storage, enterprise data management, and distributed computing systems where efficient data organization is critical.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the updating includes any of: generating the updated synchronization status to indicate an identity of the storage set and the data object, storing the updated synchronization status in at least one of a local memory or storing a dispersed hierarchical index within one or more of the storage sets.
This invention relates to data synchronization in distributed storage systems, specifically addressing challenges in tracking and updating synchronization status across multiple storage sets. The method involves updating synchronization status to ensure consistency between distributed storage locations. The updating process includes generating an updated synchronization status that identifies both the storage set and the specific data object being synchronized. This status can be stored locally in memory or within a dispersed hierarchical index distributed across one or more storage sets. The hierarchical index organizes synchronization data in a structured manner, allowing efficient retrieval and updates. The method ensures that synchronization metadata remains accurate and accessible, even in large-scale distributed environments where data objects are replicated or distributed across multiple storage locations. This approach improves reliability and reduces the risk of synchronization errors, particularly in systems where storage sets may be geographically dispersed or managed by different nodes. The invention is particularly useful in cloud storage, distributed databases, and peer-to-peer networks where maintaining consistent data states is critical.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining to resynchronize is in accordance with a schedule or when detecting availability of a previously unavailable storage set.
A system and method for managing data synchronization in a distributed storage environment addresses the challenge of maintaining data consistency across multiple storage nodes, particularly when storage sets become temporarily unavailable. The invention involves a synchronization mechanism that triggers resynchronization based on predefined schedules or the reappearance of previously unavailable storage sets. This ensures that data remains consistent and up-to-date across all nodes, even when some storage components experience intermittent connectivity issues. The method includes monitoring the availability of storage sets and initiating synchronization when a scheduled time is reached or when a previously offline storage set becomes accessible again. This approach minimizes data loss and ensures that all nodes eventually converge to a consistent state, improving reliability in distributed storage systems. The solution is particularly useful in environments where storage nodes may experience temporary disruptions, such as in cloud-based or edge computing architectures. By dynamically adjusting synchronization based on availability and scheduled intervals, the system optimizes performance while maintaining data integrity.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identifying a data object includes retrieving the synchronization status and selecting an un-synchronized data object associated with a now-available storage set.
A method for managing data synchronization in distributed storage systems addresses the challenge of efficiently identifying and synchronizing data objects across multiple storage sets. The method involves determining the synchronization status of data objects and selecting those that are currently unsynchronized but associated with a storage set that has become available. This ensures that data synchronization occurs only when the necessary storage resources are accessible, optimizing bandwidth and computational resources. The method may include additional steps such as detecting changes in storage availability, tracking synchronization states, and prioritizing data objects based on their synchronization status. By dynamically selecting unsynchronized data objects for synchronization when their associated storage sets become available, the method improves efficiency and reliability in distributed storage environments. This approach is particularly useful in systems where storage resources may be intermittently available, such as in cloud storage or edge computing scenarios. The method ensures that data consistency is maintained without unnecessary synchronization attempts, reducing overhead and improving overall system performance.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identifying a latest available revision includes: issuing revision requests, receiving revision responses and selecting a source storage set associated with a desired revision.
A system and method for managing data revisions in a distributed storage environment addresses the challenge of efficiently identifying and accessing the latest available revision of data across multiple storage sources. The method involves issuing revision requests to one or more storage sources to query their available revisions of a target dataset. Upon receiving revision responses from the storage sources, the system analyzes the responses to determine which storage source contains the desired revision. The desired revision may be the most recent revision, a specific version, or a revision meeting certain criteria. The system then selects the appropriate storage source that holds the desired revision, enabling subsequent data access or processing operations to be performed on the correct version. This approach ensures data consistency and accuracy by dynamically identifying the correct revision source, particularly in environments where data is distributed across multiple storage systems or locations. The method may also include error handling mechanisms to manage cases where revision requests fail or responses are incomplete, ensuring robust revision identification even in unreliable storage environments.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the latest revision is based on the revision responses.
A system and method for managing document revisions in collaborative environments addresses the challenge of tracking and integrating feedback from multiple reviewers to produce an updated document version. The method involves receiving revision responses from multiple reviewers, where each response includes suggested changes to a document. These responses are analyzed to determine the most relevant or consensus-based modifications. The latest revision of the document is then generated by incorporating the selected changes from the revision responses, ensuring that the updated version reflects the collective input of the reviewers. The process may involve prioritizing certain responses based on reviewer authority, recency, or other criteria to resolve conflicts or discrepancies. The system may also include a user interface for displaying the revision responses and the latest revision, allowing users to track changes and review the evolution of the document. This approach improves collaboration by streamlining the revision process and ensuring that the final document accurately reflects the combined feedback of all contributors.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the initiating storage includes: issuing a request for slices of the latest revision of the data object from source storage set; receiving the slices of the latest revision of the data object; and identifying the at least one storage set requiring the latest revision and sending the slices of the latest revision of the data object to the identified at least one storage set.
A method for managing data consistency across distributed storage systems addresses the challenge of ensuring all storage sets have the latest revision of a data object. The method involves initiating storage synchronization by requesting slices of the latest revision of a data object from a source storage set. Upon receiving these slices, the system identifies which storage sets require the latest revision and distributes the slices to those identified storage sets. This ensures that all relevant storage sets are updated with the most current data, maintaining consistency across the distributed system. The process may involve multiple storage sets, where each set may store different slices of the data object. By dynamically identifying and updating only the storage sets that need the latest revision, the method optimizes network and storage resources while ensuring data integrity. The method is particularly useful in distributed storage environments where data objects are fragmented across multiple storage nodes, and synchronization must be performed efficiently to avoid inconsistencies.
10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises: at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the one or more computing devices to: initiate storage of a data object in two or more storage sets, wherein the data objects stored in each of the two or more storage sets are copies of each other, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein each data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices (EDSs); detect a failure to store at least a minimum number of EDSs from the data object in at least one of the two or more storage sets, wherein the minimum number of EDSs is a number required to enable recovery of the data object; initiate storage of an entry in the DSN, wherein the entry indicates the data object for which at least a minimum number of EDS failed to store; update synchronization status for the data objects stored in each of the two or more storage sets, wherein the updating the synchronization status is includes querying the DSN for the entry for the data object; determine, based on the updated synchronization status, to resynchronize the two or more storage sets; identify a data object requiring resynchronization; identify a latest available revision associated with the data object; and facilitate storage of the identified latest available revision of the data object in at least one storage set requiring the latest revision to satisfy the resynchronization.
The invention relates to a system for managing data storage and synchronization in a dispersed storage network (DSN). The problem addressed is ensuring data integrity and consistency across multiple storage sets when errors occur during storage operations. The system stores a data object redundantly in two or more storage sets, where each set contains identical copies of the data object. The data object is segmented into multiple data segments, and each segment is dispersed error encoded to produce encoded data slices (EDSs). If fewer than the minimum required EDSs are stored in any storage set, the system detects the failure and records an entry in the DSN indicating the affected data object. The system then updates the synchronization status of the data objects across all storage sets by querying the DSN for entries related to failed storage operations. Based on this status, the system determines whether resynchronization is needed. If resynchronization is required, the system identifies the data object needing correction, locates the latest available revision of the data object, and ensures this revision is stored in any storage set that lacks it, thereby restoring consistency across all storage sets. This approach enhances data reliability and availability in distributed storage environments.
11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises: during initiating storage, identifying the two or more storage sets, generating a plurality of sets of encoded data slices and sending the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to the identified two or more storage sets.
This invention relates to distributed storage systems, specifically methods for storing data across multiple storage sets in a secure and efficient manner. The problem addressed is ensuring data redundancy and integrity while optimizing storage and retrieval processes in distributed environments. The system involves a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for a distributed storage process. During storage initiation, the system identifies two or more storage sets, which are distinct groups of storage nodes or devices. The system then generates multiple sets of encoded data slices from the original data. These encoded slices are distributed across the identified storage sets, ensuring redundancy and fault tolerance. The encoding process may involve error-correcting codes or other techniques to protect data integrity. The storage sets may be selected based on factors such as availability, capacity, or geographic distribution. By distributing encoded slices across multiple sets, the system enhances reliability and reduces the risk of data loss due to node failures. The retrieval process would involve reconstructing the original data from the distributed slices, leveraging the redundancy provided by the storage sets. This approach improves data durability in distributed storage systems by combining encoding techniques with strategic distribution across multiple storage sets, ensuring that data remains accessible even if some storage nodes become unavailable.
12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises: the identified two or more storage sets being associated with a common user.
A system and method for managing data storage in a distributed computing environment addresses the challenge of efficiently organizing and retrieving user-specific data across multiple storage locations. The invention involves identifying two or more storage sets within a distributed storage system, where each storage set contains data associated with a common user. The system analyzes the storage sets to determine their relationships, such as shared access permissions, ownership, or usage patterns, to establish that they belong to the same user. This identification process may involve examining metadata, access logs, or user authentication records. Once identified, the storage sets are linked or grouped to streamline data management, improve retrieval efficiency, and enhance security by ensuring consistent access controls. The system may also apply policies or rules to the grouped storage sets, such as backup schedules, encryption settings, or retention periods, based on the user's preferences or organizational policies. This approach reduces redundancy, simplifies administration, and ensures that user data remains organized and accessible across distributed storage resources. The invention is particularly useful in cloud-based or multi-tenant storage environments where data from multiple users is stored in a shared infrastructure.
13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises: the updating synchronization status including any of: generating the updated synchronization status to indicate an identity of the storage set and the data object, storing the updated synchronization status in at least one of a local memory or storing a dispersed hierarchical index within one or more of the storage sets.
A system for managing data synchronization in a distributed storage environment addresses the challenge of efficiently tracking and updating synchronization status across multiple storage sets. The system generates an updated synchronization status that identifies both the storage set and the specific data object involved in the synchronization process. This status can be stored locally in a memory or within a dispersed hierarchical index distributed across one or more storage sets. The hierarchical index organizes data objects in a structured manner, allowing for efficient retrieval and synchronization. The system ensures that synchronization status is accurately maintained, enabling reliable data consistency across distributed storage nodes. By storing the status either locally or within the index, the system provides flexibility in managing synchronization metadata, improving scalability and fault tolerance in distributed storage systems. The approach optimizes synchronization operations by reducing redundant data transfers and ensuring that updates are propagated correctly across the storage infrastructure. This method enhances data integrity and availability in environments where data is distributed across multiple storage locations.
14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises: the determining to resynchronize the two or more storage sets being executed in accordance with a schedule or when detecting availability of a previously unavailable storage set.
A system and method for managing data storage synchronization involves coordinating multiple storage sets to maintain data consistency. The technology addresses the challenge of ensuring data integrity across distributed or intermittently available storage systems, which is critical for applications requiring high availability and fault tolerance. The system monitors the status of storage sets and determines when resynchronization is necessary. This determination is based on either a predefined schedule or the detection of a previously unavailable storage set becoming available again. When resynchronization is triggered, the system aligns the data across the storage sets to ensure consistency. The method includes tracking the operational state of each storage set and dynamically adjusting synchronization operations to accommodate changes in availability. This approach improves reliability by minimizing data divergence and ensuring that all storage sets reflect the most current data state. The solution is particularly useful in environments where storage resources may be temporarily offline or where scheduled maintenance requires periodic synchronization. By automating the resynchronization process, the system reduces manual intervention and enhances overall system efficiency.
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises: the identifying a data object including retrieving the synchronization status and selecting an un-synchronized data object associated with a now-available storage set.
A system and method for data synchronization in distributed storage environments addresses the challenge of efficiently identifying and synchronizing data objects across multiple storage sets with varying availability. The invention provides a computer-implemented solution that tracks synchronization status and prioritizes data objects based on storage set availability. The system retrieves synchronization status information for data objects, then selects an unsynchronized data object that is associated with a storage set that has become available. This ensures that synchronization operations are performed on the most relevant data objects when storage resources become accessible, optimizing bandwidth and computational resources. The method includes mechanisms for tracking which data objects have been synchronized and which remain pending, allowing the system to dynamically adjust synchronization priorities based on real-time storage set availability. This approach improves efficiency in distributed storage systems by reducing redundant synchronization attempts and ensuring timely data consistency across storage sets. The invention is particularly useful in environments where storage sets may intermittently become available or unavailable, such as cloud storage systems or edge computing networks.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises: the identifying a latest available revision including: issuing revision requests, receiving revision responses and selecting a source storage set associated with a desired revision.
A system and method for managing data revisions in a distributed storage environment addresses the challenge of efficiently identifying and retrieving the latest available revision of data from multiple storage sources. The system issues revision requests to one or more storage sets, each storing different revisions of the data. Upon receiving revision responses from the storage sets, the system analyzes the responses to determine the latest available revision. The system then selects the source storage set associated with the desired revision, ensuring that the most up-to-date data is accessed. This process involves querying multiple storage locations, comparing revision metadata, and dynamically selecting the optimal storage source based on the latest revision information. The system may also handle scenarios where multiple storage sets contain the same revision, ensuring consistency and reliability in data retrieval. The solution improves data management in distributed systems by streamlining revision tracking and retrieval, reducing latency, and enhancing data accuracy.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprises: the facilitating storage including: issuing a request for slices of the latest revision of the data object from source storage set, receiving the slices of the latest revision of the data object, identifying the at least one storage set requiring the latest revision and sending the slices of the latest revision of the data object to the identified at least one storage set.
This invention relates to distributed data storage systems, specifically methods for efficiently propagating updates to data objects across multiple storage sets. The problem addressed is ensuring data consistency and availability in distributed storage environments where data objects are divided into slices and stored across multiple storage sets. The invention provides a system for facilitating storage of data objects by managing the distribution of the latest revisions of data objects to relevant storage sets. The system includes a storage facilitator that issues requests for slices of the latest revision of a data object from a source storage set. Upon receiving these slices, the facilitator identifies which storage sets require the latest revision of the data object. The identified storage sets are then sent the slices of the latest revision, ensuring that all necessary storage sets are updated with the most recent data. This process helps maintain data consistency across the distributed storage system by ensuring that all relevant storage sets have access to the latest version of the data object. The system is designed to work with non-transitory computer-readable storage media, ensuring that the data propagation process is reliable and persistent.
18. A computing device of a group of computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the computing device comprises: an interface; a local memory; and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory, wherein the processing module functions to: initiate storage of a data object in two or more storage sets, wherein the data objects stored in each of the two or more storage sets are copies of each other, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein each data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices (EDSs), wherein each storage set of the two or more storage sets is associated with a vault; detect a failure to store at least a minimum number of EDSs from the data object in at least one of the two or more storage sets, wherein the minimum number of EDSs is a number required to enable recovery of the data object; initiate storage of an entry in the DSN, wherein the entry indicates the data object for which at least a minimum number of EDS failed to store; update synchronization status for the data objects stored in each of the two or more storage sets, wherein the updating the synchronization status is includes querying the DSN for the entry for the data object; determine, based on the updated synchronization status, to resynchronize the two or more storage sets; identify a data object requiring resynchronization; identify a latest available revision associated with the data object; and facilitate storage of the identified latest available revision of the data object in at least one storage set requiring the latest revision to satisfy the resynchronization.
The invention relates to a computing device in a dispersed storage network (DSN) that ensures data consistency and reliability across multiple storage sets. The system addresses the problem of maintaining synchronized copies of data objects when storage failures occur in a distributed environment. The computing device includes an interface, local memory, and a processing module. The processing module segments a data object into multiple data segments, disperses error encodes each segment to produce encoded data slices (EDSs), and stores these slices across two or more storage sets, each associated with a vault. If a failure prevents storing the minimum required EDSs in any storage set, the system records an entry in the DSN indicating the affected data object. The synchronization status of all storage sets is then updated by querying the DSN for such entries. If resynchronization is needed, the system identifies the data object requiring correction, determines the latest available revision, and ensures this revision is stored in any storage set lacking it, thereby restoring consistency. This approach enhances data reliability and availability in distributed storage systems by automatically detecting and correcting storage inconsistencies.
19. The computing device of claim 18 , wherein the processing module further functions to: generate the updated synchronization status to indicate an identity of the storage set and the data object, storing the updated synchronization status in at least one of a local memory or storing a dispersed hierarchical index within one or more of the storage sets.
This invention relates to a computing device for managing data synchronization in a distributed storage system. The system addresses the challenge of efficiently tracking and updating synchronization status across multiple storage sets, ensuring data consistency and integrity in a decentralized environment. The computing device includes a processing module that generates an updated synchronization status to indicate the identity of a storage set and a specific data object. This status is stored either locally in the device's memory or within a dispersed hierarchical index distributed across one or more storage sets. The hierarchical index organizes data objects in a structured manner, allowing for efficient retrieval and synchronization. The processing module also manages the synchronization process, ensuring that changes to data objects are propagated correctly across the storage system. This approach improves data reliability and accessibility in distributed storage networks by maintaining accurate synchronization metadata and enabling efficient data retrieval. The invention is particularly useful in systems where data is distributed across multiple nodes, requiring robust mechanisms to track and synchronize changes.
20. The computing device of claim 18 , wherein the processing module further functions to: determining to resynchronize in accordance with a schedule or when detecting availability of a previously unavailable storage set.
A computing device includes a processing module that manages data synchronization between a primary storage set and a secondary storage set. The primary storage set is actively used for data operations, while the secondary storage set is a backup or redundant storage system. The processing module monitors the status of the secondary storage set and initiates synchronization when certain conditions are met. Specifically, the processing module determines whether to resynchronize the storage sets based on a predefined schedule or when it detects that a previously unavailable secondary storage set has become available again. This ensures that data consistency is maintained between the primary and secondary storage sets, even if the secondary storage set experiences temporary unavailability. The synchronization process may involve copying data changes from the primary storage set to the secondary storage set to ensure both sets are up to date. This approach is useful in systems where high availability and data redundancy are critical, such as in enterprise storage solutions or distributed computing environments.
Unknown
October 8, 2019
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.